“You can smell football here - the potential of the club is so massive”

On March 11, United fans could scarcely believe their eyes as managing director Lee Charnley unveiled Rafa Benitez as the club’s new ‘manager’.

“You can smell football in Liverpool - and it is the same here,” Benitez said.

“Scared is not the word. I know that it is a difficult situation but believe me, I’ve done the maths. It is positive.

“I am taking a risk in terms of this year, but I feel the potential of the club is so massive that if it goes as I expect, we will have a very good team next season.”

It was crucial that Benitez was given the title of ‘manager’ given that the out-going ‘head coach’ McClaren had appeared powerless at times - and the Spaniard knew it.

“If I am here, it is because they trust me and want to listen to me,” he added.

“I’m falling in love with Newcastle - I hope to stay for many years”

“I see the similarities between the cities and the fans,” Benitez explained when he was asked whether he felt a similar connection to Newcastle fans as he did to the support base when he was at Liverpool as the Magpies prepared to visit Anfield last April.

“It’s a city of workers, the fans support the team, they have passion – so they are very similar. That is good for me.

“I’ve been in Spain I’ve been in Italy. But the experience of Liverpool was fantastic because the fans are behind you no matter what you do.

“At the moment the fans here, we are in honeymoon, everything is fine and I am really pleased.

“Hopefully it can be the same for some years.”

Asked if he felt loved by the Toon faithful, Benitez replied: “Even the fans in the street, everyone around the club, the staff, we have nice people, we have a good relationship.

“I’m quite focused, I have to do my job.

“Yes I love Liverpool, but I love Newcastle at the moment and I have to get three points.

“And hopefully it’ll be the same with Newcastle for years.”

Supporters certainly hope so...

Rafa Benitez arrives at St. James Park, to take on the managers position

“My heart is telling me ‘yes’, but at the same time you have to use the brain too”

If only he’d arrived sooner, ey?

The 5-1 hammering of Champions League-bound Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of last season proved what Benitez could do with that group of players given time.

And, though there was a relegation break clause in his three-year United deal, Magpies fans implored Benitez to stay on the final day.

An emotional Benitez said of his future on May 15: “My heart is obviously telling me ‘yes’; it is a fantastic opportunity, a fantastic atmosphere, everything is so good that my heart is very clear.

“But at the same time you have to use the brain, both things have to go together.

“We talk with [managing director] Lee Charnley, and then after we’ll see where we are.

“I said I am quite open and I am quite pleased with everything, the staff, everything, now it’s just to be sure that we have to do what we have to do to be sure that we can go up if I say here.

“I have the same feeling as the fans, they want a strong team next season to be sure we go up again.

“The way and the ideas will not be difficult to have, to have similar ideas, but we have sit down and make sure of everything.”

“The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence”

An excruciating 10-day wait followed for United fans as Benitez negotiated with the club to ensure he would get the backing - and power - necessary to rebuild Newcastle.

Then, on May 25, the Magpies announced that Benitez would have full control over all “football-related matters” - and that they would have a Champions League-winning manager at the helm for the Championship.

“The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence in my decision,” Benitez said after signing a redrawn three-year contract.

“This is a huge club and I wanted to be part of the great future I can see for Newcastle United.

“I’m convinced we can go up next season, stay in the Premier League for a long time and win trophies.

“This is a massive club and I want to stay part of it.

“I have responsibility for football business and the most important thing is I have assurances that we will have a strong, winning, team.

“If I’m here it is because I’m sure we can get promoted, because I’m sure Newcastle can get back where we belong.”

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“Sometimes you prefer to be the tail of the lion or the head of the mouse”

After Newcastle started their Championship campaign with successive losses, a five-game winning run followed back-to-back defeats, before a woeful 2-0 home reversal to struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 17 prompted Benitez to cite a bizarre Spanish saying to describe his players.

“Sometimes you prefer to be the tail of the lion or the head of the mouse,” Benitez explained, suggesting the United squad must get used to being a team at the top of the table everyone wants to beat, as opposed to struggling near the bottom.

“When you’re in the Premier League and you are at the bottom, you are the tail of the lion.

“Some people are happy being the tail of the lion but some people prefer to be the head of the mouse.”

“I am happy inside”

Two games later though and Benitez had rediscovered some joy as Newcastle fought back to secure a dramatic and vital injury-time victory over Norwich City.

Goals from Yoan Gouffran and Dwight Gayle in the 95th and 96th minutes respectively turned the game on its head and propelled Newcastle towards the top - a position they’d eventually secure after defeating Barnsley a few weeks later - and, in turn, completely destabilised the Canaries’ season.

“I am the kind of manager who gets excited, but especially inside because I am really proud when I see the team reacting,” Benitez said.

“I am really proud of them.

“Some people will jump or run or whatever, but I am happy inside because I think it’s something that’s difficult to achieve.”

“It’s important to understand why the people are so proud of the city and the area”

In November, Benitez decided to take advantage of a rare midweek without a game to travel around the North East and visit famous landmarks such as the Angel of the North, Durham Cathedral and the Newcastle Keep.

“I go around and try to see things that otherwise I would not have the opportunity to see,” Benitez explained of the rationale behind visiting the landmarks.

“If you go and you see these things, you can see the passion of the fans.

“I think it’s important to understand why the people are so proud of the city and the area.

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“To have the whole city behind you makes me happy - I am glad I came”

As Benitez’s one-year anniversary on Tyneside approached, he had little time to reflect on this landmark given the fact his Magpies side had three tough away games to prepare for.

Yet he did admit that he was delighted with his decision to move to Newcastle.

“Staying here last season, watching the fans - hearing the fans, more than just watching – was crucial in my decision and now I am really pleased because you can see the fans are so happy,” Benitez admitted.

“Always when we go away, they are so happy.

“To have the city, the whole club, everyone following the team in a positive way, it’s really important, especially when you come from Italy or Spain and you know what is going on around.